BCHD Icebreaker - Board Discussion Regarding Dismally Low Public Participation Levels

During 2023, BCHD had essentially no public participation in its decision making, as quantitatively measured by BCHD's monthly CEO reports of attendance at both Board and Committee Meetings. BCHD does not report attendees by name, so it is impossible to determine if there are many repeat attendees each month, or, if there are alternatively, new faces at each meeting. Only a minimum and maximum attendance by unique attendee can be determined.

According to the Registrar, there are 86,203 registered voters in the District.

During 2023, BCHD Board and Committee meetings had a minimum of 14 attendees (that is, only 14 unique people could have accounted for every member of the public that attended every BCHD Board or Committee meeting throughout the entire year. That would represent 0.016% of the registered voters/taxpayers/owners of the District.

During 2023, if each BCHD Board or Committee attendee was unique, that is, no person ever attended more than one meeting throughout the entire year (clearly implausible, but represents the MAXIMUM public participation level), then a mere 153 persons attended. They may or may not have been "Residents who reside" in the District. That results in a public participation rate MAXIMUM of 0.177% if District voters/residents/taxpayers.

BCHD's dismal outreach and participation level for 2023 therefore ranged from 0.016% to 0.177%. This clearly represents either massive failure of outreach by BCHD, or, a concerted effort by BCHD to minimize public participation.

The Board should discuss why its public participation levels are so low and how it can achieve reasonable levels that assure that the Board is not working in an opinion-reinforcing echo chamber.